Social security

I have lived here for a bit more than two years now, and the road to recognition in the form of visa and insurance have been anything but fast and smooth. My A5 visa, which entitles me to get social insurance was dated to the 9th of June, but things would not start moving automatically from that day. Not only did I need to go to Bituach Leumi, the most infamous of the Israeli bureaucracy entities, but I also found out that the possibility to get Kopat Holim (universal health insurance) would take another half year. Misrad Hapnim (Interior Ministry) have evaluated that I am allowed to reside in the country, but now it is time for Bituach Leumi to decide whether I am worthy of all the economical benefits. Certainly I am coming here for the 14 weeks of maternity leave, when in Sweden I would get 280 working days. Duh?! I simply want permission to pay from my salary to get health insurance, like everybody else.

This news really ticked me off, since I have been counting the days until we are able to start working on an additional human member of the family. Doing that without health insurance would simply be stupid. If things go as planned, I will not burden the system significantly anyway, since I am a natural childbirth advocate and want to give birth at home with a midwife (which is not covered by the health insurance), but just in case something would go wrong, I need a backup.

Today we went to Bituach Leumi in Haifa and arrived 7.45 to precede the worst queues. There were about 30 people waiting outside and they immediately informed us that we were last in line. When they opened everybody gathered and formed the queue that they previously only kept in their minds. We passed security quickly and after some confusion we came to the right person.

All the staff at Bituach Leumi drink bitter juice for breakfast and they all look intimidatingly angry sitting there behind their counters. However, no wonder with such a job! My husband on the other hand, is one of the most socially gifted persons I have ever met, and he goes up smiling and joking, turning the lady into soft jelly in his hands, including putting a big smile on her lips.

We got two good news. Pointer Software, where I work, has unwittingly paid social insurance from each of my paychecks, already during my simple working permit, and those money we will get refunded. Second, yes, it takes another six months to get Kopat Holim, but I am practically insured from when the A5 was issued and if I need medical care during these six months, I should just save the receipts to get it refunded retroactively.

Restrictions have been lifted and I am hoping that it will take quickly. I am 38 years old now and it is about time to squeeze at least one kid out.